Convertible cane and stool-frame.



No. 65|,360. Patented lune I2, I900. J. 0. KAPP.

CONVERTIBLE CANE AND STOOL FRAME.

(Application filed New- Q,- 1899) (No Model.)

w W/TNESSS;,.-' I /NVENTO/? A TTOHNEYS PATENT JOHN 0. KAPP, or AKRON, 01-110.

CONVERTIBLE CANE AND STOOL-FRAM E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 651,360, dated. June 12, 1900. Application filed November 9, 1 899. $eria1 No. 736,413. (No model-) To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN O. KAPP, a resident of Akron, Summit county, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Canes and Stool- Frames; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improved convertible cane and stool-frame and it consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

- The object of this invention is to provide such a construction of leg-forming bars, barconnecting rod, and braces for a camp-stool that the parts can be conveniently changed from their stool-forming position into their cane-forming position, and vice versa.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure Iis a view in perspective of a convertible stoolframe and cane embodying my invention. In this figure the parts composing the device are shown in the position required to form a stoolframe, and in dotted lines is shown a piece of canvas applied as required to form a seat.

Figs. II and III are end elevations on lines II II and III 111, respectively, Fig. I; but the seat-forming canvas is not shown in Figs. II and III. Fig. IV is a bottom plan of an end of the seat-forming canvas. Fig. V is an elevation showing the inner side of the upper portion of one of the leg-forming bars of each pair of leg-forming bars. Fig. VI is a top plan corresponding with Fig. I, except that in Fig. VI the members of each pair of folding leg-forming bars are swung together. Fig. VII is a top plan corresponding with Fig. VI, except that in Fig. VII the leg-connecting rod is turned or oscillated into the position required'to render it capable of entering a recess formed in a leg-forming bar of each pair of leg-forming bars. Figs. V, VI, and VII are drawn on a larger scale than the preceding figures. Fig. VIII is a side elevation showing one of the pair of leg-forming bars tilted as required to bring the leg-connecting rod into engagement with the recess in one of the bars of the said pair of bars. Fig. IX corresponds with Fig. VIII, except that in Fig.

IX both pairs of bars are tilted into line. Fig. X is an enlarged longitudinal central section of the central portion of the cane that is formed or completed by slipping a sleeve shown embracing one of the pair of bars in FigJIX over the joint between the two pairs of bars. Fig. XI is an enlarged detail in section, showing the connection between the barconnecting rod and a pivot 19, that secures together the bars of a pair of bars.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. I, II, and III, my convertible stool-frame and cane comprises two pairs of half-round bars arranged with their fiat sides adjacent to each other, and a adesignate the different bars, respectively, of each pair of bars. The bars of each pair of bars are pivoted together centrally, as at b, so as to render the said barscapabl'e of being swung together or apart, and each pair of bars in their caneforming position forms one-half of the cane proper. The one bar of each pair of bars,with the inner bar a of the stool-frame illustrated in Figs. I, II, and III, has the upper portion of its half-round or convex side provided with a groove a that extends from the pivot 19 of the said bar a upwardly to the latters upper extremity. The grooves a of the grooved bars a a are arranged to receive the rod 0 when the bars a a are brought into line in converting the device from a stool-frame into a cane, and consequently the relative arrangement of the said grooves is such that they are adapted to register with each other, and the outer end of the groove in each bara will be in open relation'with the outer end of the groove in the other bar a when both of the said bars are tilted into their cane-forming position. In the stool-forming position of the parts the rod cconnects together and braces apart the two pairs of bars a a. Each pivot 19 is arranged to turn within the bars secured together by the said pivot and has its inner end embracing the rod 0, as shown more clearly in Fig. XI, that is pivoted to and transversely of the said pivot, as at c. The upper portion of the bar a of each pair of bars is provided upon its flat or inner side with a groove ed, that is arranged as required to render it capable of receiving a brace d, employed in bracing apart the said bar and the rod 0 in the stool-forming position of the parts. The brace-receiving groove 61.3 of each bar a is arranged a suitable distance from the pivot that unites the said bar to its companion bar a, and the brace is pivoted at one end to and transversely of the said bar a, as at d, so as to render the said brace capable of being swung from within the groove of the bar toward the rod 0, or vice versa, according as the device is to be converted from a cane to a stool structure, or vice versa. The free end of each brace d is formed into a hook (:1 that in the stool-forming position of the parts engages a hole or perforation 0 formed in the rod 0. The rod 0 being supported from the pivots Z) is capable of turning or oscillating. The rod 0 is flat and thin and is capable of only edgewise entering the grooves a in the bars a. The use of a fiat bar-connectingrod that is comparatively thin is important in that the grooves a should be quite narrow to avoid material weakening or mutilation of the bars in which the said grooves are formed. Of course the brace-receiving holes 0 of the barconnecting rod could not in the construction hereinbefore described be formed in the edges of the rod, and consequently they are formed in the sides of the red; but the formation of the said holes through the sides of the rod, as shown, necessitates an oscillation or fractional turn of the said rod to conveniently accommodate the engagement with the said holes of the hook ends of the braces (Z.

The seat for the stool structure is formed, preferably, by a piece of canvas e, that is stretched over the upper ends of the leg-forming bars of the structure and has the bars of each pair of bars engaging a fold or pocket 6, formed in the contiguous end of the seatforming canvas, as shown in Figs. I and II, so that the piece of canvas not only forms the seat, but is instrumental in tying together the leg-forming bars. The first four figures of the drawings illustrate the stool-forming position of the parts. In converting the stool structure into a cane the seat is of course first removed and can be carried in the pocket or otherwise. The braces d are then disconnected from the rod 0 and swung into the grooves a in the legs a, as shown in Fig. V. Next the bars of each pair of bars a ct are swung together upon their pivot b, as shown in Fig. VI, and thereupon the rod 0 is turned or oscillated, as required, to render it capable of entering the grooves (t in the bars (t, as shown in Fig. VII, so as to accommodate the swinging of the two pairs of bars into. line, as illustrated in Figs. VIII and IX, and thereupon a sleeve f, that is provided, is slipped over the joint between the two pairs of bars, as shown in Fig. X. In the conversion of a cane thus formedinto a stool-form ing structure the sleeve f is slipped onto the rod 0 and remains mounted upon the latter, as shown in Fig. I, until the device is reconverted into a cane. In changing the parts from their. stool-forming position into a caneforming position the sleeve f is slipped from the rod 0 onto the pair of bars (6 a, that are first swung into line with the rod 0. In the cane-forming position of the parts the sleeve f, as already indicated, embraces the contiguous or adjacent end of the two pairs of bars a a, as shown in Fig. X, and the bars of one of the said pairs of bars, at their sleevereceiving end, have a slight lateral swell, as at s, to enable the sleeve to tightly engage the same, and thereby cause the sleeve to be retained in position.

hat I claim is'- 1. A device of the character indicated, comprising the following: two pairs of bars, a a, with the bars of each pair of bars pivoted together centrally between the ends of the bars; a rod connecting together and pivoted to and transversely of the pivots of the two pairs of bars, and two braces pivotally supported from a bar at opposite ends, respectively, of the aforesaid rod, and having the arrangement required to render them capable of operating between the rod and the bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. Aoonvertible cane and stool-framecomprising two pairs of bars a a pivoted together centrally; means for bracing apart and tying together the two pairs of bars; grooves formed in the bars and arranged as required to re ceive the bar-connecting means, and a sleeve arranged to embrace the adjacent end of both pairs of bars when the said pairs are in line, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

3. A convertible cane and stool-frame comprising the following: the bars a and a; having the grooves (t the bars at at" having the grooves a the pivots h securing the dilferent bars a and a, at their central portion, to the central portion of the dilferentbars a and a, respectively; braces d pivoted, as at d, to the last-mentioned bars and having their free ends formed into hooks; arod a connecting together and pivoted, as at c, to and transversely of the aforesaid pivots, and having holes for receiving the aforesaid hooks, and the sleeve f arranged to embrace the adjacent ends of both pairs of bars when the said pairs are in line, substantially as. shown, for the purpose specified.

4. A convertible cane and stool-frame comprising the following: two pairs of bars, a, a, with the. bars of each pair of bars pivoted together centrallybetween the ends of the bars; a thin rod connecting together and pivoted to and transversely of the pivots of the two pairs of bars and having two lateral holesbetween the central portion and opposite ends, respectively, of the rod, and two. braces pivotal'ly supported from a bar at opposite ends, respectively, of the aforesaid rod, and having the arrangement required to render them capable of operating between the rod and the bars, which braces have their free ends formed 10 and bar-bracing means, and a sleeve f capa ble of embracing the adjacent ends of the said pairs of bars when both pairs are in line,- and engaging the aforesaid swell, substantially as shown, for the purpose specified.

Signed by me at Cleveland, Ohio, this 8th 5 day of September, 1899.

JOHN 0. KAPP. Witnesses:

O. H. DORER, A. H. PARRATT. 

